Direction detection device for game machine combined exercise bike and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A direction detection device is provided for a game machine combined exercise bike. The direction detection device include a detection module mounted to a direction rotation module composed of a rotatable portion and a fixed portion. The detection module includes a plurality of signal receiver elements and a signal transmitter element, which are operated in a non-contact manner and are allowed for relative rotation with respect to each other. Each signal receiver element has a range of detection. During relative rotation between the signal transmitter element and the signal receiver elements, when the signal transmitter element is moved into the detection range of one of the signal receiver elements, the signal receiver elements detect a positional message of the signal transmitter element, and the signal receiver elements applies the message to a signal processing device of the game machine, which converts the positional message into a direction signal.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to physical fitness exercise equipment, and more particularly to a game machine combined exercise bike that has a handlebar incorporating a direction detection device that allows for smooth rotation of the handlebar and detection of the direction of the handlebar for controlling the game machine.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Physical fitness equipments that are operated by treading include an exercise bike, a treadmill, a climber, an elliptical trainer, and a ski machine. All these equipments are provided with a fixed handrail or handle bar for balance control of a user. However, such an arrangement limits the exercise of an upper portion of body and thus lowers the effectiveness of exercise. Further, such equipments provide only fixed styles of exercises so that these equipments cannot effectively attract to the attention of the general consumers and do not intensively interest people who wish to take exercise for physical fitness.

Since for most users who do exercise with the traditional equipments for physical fitness, the activity of exercise is successively repeated for a great number of times, the users soon get bored and it is hard to persistently do the physical fitness exercise for a long period. As a consequence, it is hard to obtain an excellent result of physical exercise. In other words, physical fitness equipment that provides a new style of exercise is desired to overcome such problems and to suit practical needs of physical fitness for general users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a direction detection device for a game machine combined exercise bike and a method thereof, wherein the bike has a handlebar that comprises a non-contact type relative rotation arrangement to provide smooth relative rotation without any undesired jamming.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a direction detection device for a game machine combined exercise bike and a method thereof, which allow a user of the exercise bike to experience a sense of reality so that a novel style of exercise is provided to increasingly attract the attention of the users and improve the interesting of the users of using the exercise equipment.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a direction detection device for a game machine combined exercise bike and a method thereof, which allows for access and control of a moving direction of a game object in game so as to improve the capability of reaction and flexibility of a user and thus enhancing economic value of the exercise equipment.

Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a direction detection device for a game machine combined exercise bike and a method thereof, which allows a user to rotate a handlebar in a body balanced condition so that the upper portion of the body of the user can be subjected to exercise and training during the operation of the exercise equipment to thereby improve the result of physical fitness provided by the exercise.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a direction detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the direction detection device according to the present invention in an assembled form.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a game machine combined exercise bike in which the direction detection device according to the present invention is embodied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a direction detection device, which comprises a direction rotation module 1 and a detection module 2. The direction detection device is provided for being mounted to a head tube of a handlebar 50 of an exercise bike (see FIG. 3) in such a way that the detection module 2 is allowed to be electrically connected to a signal processing device of a game machine to generate a direction control signal.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the direction rotation module 1 comprises a rotatable portion 10 and a fixed portion 15, which are set in a non-contacting condition with respect to each other. The rotatable portion 10 has a central axis along which a shaft 11 is formed to correspond to and face the fixed portion 15. The shaft 11 is in the form of a circular bar or alternatively, the shaft 11 can be made in the form of a circular bore, in order to realize relative rotation with respect to the fixed portion 15. The end face of the rotatable portion 10 that opposes the fixed portion 15 forms a rotatable stop member 12 on a circumferential portion around the shaft 11. The rotatable stop member 12 is arranged in such a way to be rotatable in unison with the rotatable portion 10. Further, the fixed portion 15 is provided for being fixedly mounted to the head tube of the exercise bike. The fixed portion 15 has a central axis along which a shaft 16 is formed to correspond to and face the rotatable portion 10. The shaft 16 can be set in the form of a circular bar or alternatively a circular bore, whereby the rotatable portion 10 and the fixed portion 15 are rotatably coupled to each other by means of the shafts 11, 16 and the rotatable portion 10 is allowed to do relative rotation with respect to the fixed portion 15 in a non-contact manner. The fixed portion 15 forms two fixed stop members 17, 18 that correspond to and are set on the same circular circumference as the rotatable stop member 12 of the rotatable portion 10 and the fixed stop members 17, 18 are spaced by a predetermined angular range. In the embodiment illustrated, the rotatable stop member 12 and the fixed stop members 17, 18 both are of a form of a projecting block to allow the rotatable stop member 12 to selectively engage the fixed stop members 17, 18 to induce a constraint therebetween for limiting the range of angular rotation of the rotatable portion 10. The rotatable portion 10 forms a direction control axle 30 on an end face thereof opposite to the fixed portion 15 for coupling with the handlebar 50 of the exercise bike (see FIG. 3), so that the handlebar 50 can control the rotation of the rotatable portion 10. Under this condition, the fixed portion 15 can be the head tube of the exercise bike.

The detection module 2 is arranged between the rotatable portion 10 and the fixed portion 15. The detection module 2 comprises a plurality of signal receiver elements 20 and a signal transmitter element 25. The plurality of signal receiver elements 20 is set on the end face of the rotatable portion 10 that opposes the fixed portion 15 and at the side that is opposite to the rotatable stop member 12. The plurality of signal receiver elements 20 are arranged to be substantially and angularly symmetric with respect to the rotatable stop member 12. The signal transmitter element 25 is set on the end face of the fixed portion 15 that opposes the end face of the rotatable portion 10 on which the signal receiver elements 20 are mounted and the signal transmitter element 25 and the signal receiver elements 20 are arranged concentric about a common center and on a common circumference to allow the signal transmitter element 25 and the signal receiver elements 20 to interact with each other in a non-contact manner for detection purposes. The signal receiver elements 20 and the signal transmitter element 25 can be for example reed switches and a magnet, whereby when the rotatable portion 10 undergoes an angular movement or rotation to have one of the reed switches thereof located at an angular position where the reed switch forms an inclined angle with respect to the magnet of the fixed portion 15, which is smaller than a minimun angle threshold for detection, the reed switch and the magnet are set in an engaged condition. On the other hand, when the rotatable portion 10 undergoes rotation to have one of the reed switches thereof located at an angular position where the reed switch forms an included angle with respect to the magnet of the fixed portion 15, which is larger than a maximum angle threshold for detection, the reed switch and the magnet are set in a disengaged condition. In a different embodiment, the signal transmitter element 25 may comprise a light-emitting diode, while the signal receiver elements 20 are photo sensors (photodiodes), whereby when the rotatable portion 10 undergoes rotation to have one of the photo sensors thereof located at an angular position where the photo sensor forms an inclined angle with respect to the light-emitting diode of the fixed portion 15, which is smaller than a minimum angle threshold for detection, the photo sensor and the light-emitting diode are set in an engaged condition. On the other hand, when the rotatable portion 10 undergoes rotation to have one of the photo sensors thereof located at an angular position where the photo sensor forms an included angle with respect to the light-emitting diode of the fixed portion 15, which is larger than a maximum angle threshold for detection, the photo sensor and the light-emitting diode are set in a disengaged condition. The signal receiver elements 20 is electrically connected to a signal processing device of a game machine.

As such, the handlebar 50 and the head tube of the exercise bike can generate relative rotation through the rotatable portion 10 and the fixed portion 15 of the direction rotation module 1, and generate a disengaged condition or an engaged condition for detection purpose between the signal receiver elements 20 and the signal transmitter element 25 of the detection module 2 to thereby provide a direction detection device for a game machine combined exercise bike that provides a novel style of exercise and helps improving effectiveness of exercise.

The present invention also provides a method of direction detection for a game machine combined exercise bike, wherein a plurality of signal receiver elements 20 and a signal transmitter element 25, which are operated in a non-contact manner and are allowed for relative rotation with respect to each other, are respectively provided on end faces of a rotatable portion 10 and a fixed portion 15. Each signal receiver element 20 has a predetermined range of signal detection so that during the relative rotation between the signal transmitter element 25 and the signal receiver elements 20, when the signal transmitter element 25 is moved into the signal detection range of one of the signal receiver elements 20, the signal receiver element 20 detects a positional message of the signal transmitter element 25 and the signal receiver element 20 transmits the positional message to a signal processing device of the game machine. The signal processing device converts the positional message into a direction signal.

In a practical operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the exercise bike is connected to the game machine, whereby the operation of the exercise bike may accommodate a game scenario, such as car racing. The exercise bike has a handlebar 50 and a head tube between which a direction rotation module 1 and a detection module 2 connected to the game machine are arranged. With such an arrangement, when a user wishes to make a turn according to the scenario of the game playing on the game machine, the user rotates the handlebar 50. Since the handlebar 50 is coupled to a direction control axle 30 of the rotatable portion 10, the rotatable portion 10 is cause to rotate with respect to the fixed portion 15. In case that the rotatable portion 10 is on a neutral position, two fixed stop members 17, 18 on the fixed portion 15 are symmetric with respect to a rotatable stop member 12 on the rotatable portion 10. In case that the rotatable portion 10 rotates to a predetermined angular position, the rotatable stop member 12 is brought into contact with the fixed stop member 17 or 18 to thereby limit further rotation. In this way, the range of angular displacement of the handlebar 50 is limited between the two fixed stop members 17, 18 of the fixed portion 15, providing a user with such a real sense of actual driving and improving flexibility of reaction and activity of the user.

Since the detection module 2 is arranged between the rotatable portion 10 and the fixed portion 15 of the direction rotation module 1 and since the signal receiver elements 20 and the signal transmitter element 25 of the detection module 2 are operated to generate a signal representing the relative position between the rotatable portion 10 and the fixed portion 15, a message or signal of the relative position can be applied to the signal processing device of the game machine, and is then converted by the signal processing device into a message of rotation direction that is applied to the game machine, thereby realizing control of the direction of the game that is being played. As such, a novel style of exercise is provided, which can attract the attention of a user and thus persist the time period when the user takes exercise so as to obtain the effect of body building. Further, since the detection device adopts a non-contact arrangement, which makes the operation of the present invention soundless, extends the service life, and enhances reliability.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A direction detection adapted to be used in a game machine combined exercise bike, the direction detection device comprising at least a direction rotation module and a detection module, the detection module being electrically connected to a signal processing device of the game machine; wherein the direction rotation module comprises a rotatable portion and a fixed portion, which are arranged to be rotatable relative to each other in a non-contact manner; and wherein the detection module is arranged between the rotatable portion and the fixed portion of the direction rotation module, the detection module comprising a plurality of signal receiver elements each having a range of detection and a signal transmitter element, which opposes the signal receiver elements and is positionable in the range of detection of one of the signal receiver elements.
 2. The direction detection device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable portion and the fixed portion of the direction rotation module respectively comprises shaft members that allow for rotatable coupling therebetween.
 3. The direction detection device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable portion of the direction rotation module has an end face opposing the fixed portion and having a circumferential portion on which a rotatable stop member is formed, and wherein the fixed portion comprises two fixed stop members which are set on a circular circumference corresponding to that of the rotatable stop member of the rotatable portion about a common center, the two fixed stop members being spaced from each other by a predetermined angular range to provide limits of a rane of angular rotation of the rotatable portion.
 4. The direction detection device according to claim 3, wherein the rotatable portion of the direction rotation module forms a direction control axle on an end face thereof opposite to the fixed portion.
 5. The direction detection device according to claim 3, wherein the signal receiver elements of the detection module are provided on an end face of the rotatable portion that opposes the fixed portion and at a side that is opposite to the rotatable stop member and wherein the signal transmitter element is set on an end face of the fixed portion that opposes the end face of the rotatable portion on which the signal receiver elements are mounted, the signal transmitter element and the signal receiver elements being arranged concentric about a common center to allow the signal transmitter element and the signal receiver elements on interact with each other in a non-contact manner for realizing detection.
 6. The direction detection device according to claim 5, wherein the signal receiver elements and signal transmitter element of the detection module respectively comprise reed switches and a magnet, which collectively form a detection module.
 7. The direction detection device according to claim 5, wherein the signal transmitter element of the detection module comprises a light-emitting diode, and the signal receiver elements comprise photo sensors.
 8. The direction detection device according to claim 2, wherein the rotatable portion of the direction rotation module has an end face opposing the fixed portion and having a circumferential portion on which a rotatable stop member is formed, and wherein the fixed portion comprises two fixed stop members which are set on a circular circumference corresponding to that of the rotatable stop member of the rotatable portion about a common center, the two fixed stop members being spaced from each other by a predetermined angular range to provide limits of a rane of angular rotation of the rotatable portion.
 9. The direction detection device according to claim 8, wherein the rotatable portion of the direction rotation module forms a direction control axle on an end face thereof opposite to the fixed portion.
 10. The direction detection device according to claim 8, wherein the signal receiver elements of the detection module are provided on an end face of the rotatable portion that opposes the fixed portion and at a side that is opposite to the rotatable stop member and wherein the signal transmitter element is set on an end face of the fixed portion that opposes the end face of the rotatable portion on which the signal receiver elements are mounted, the signal transmitter element and the signal receiver elements being arranged concentric about a common center to allow the signal transmitter element and the signal receiver elements on interact with each other in a non-contact manner for realizing detection.
 11. The direction detection device according to claim 10, wherein the signal receiver elements and signal transmitter element of the detection module respectively comprise reed switches and a magnet, which collectively form a detection module.
 12. The direction detection device according to claim 10, wherein the signal transmitter element of the detection module comprises a light-emitting diode, and the signal receiver elements comprise photo sensors.
 13. A direction detection method for a game machine combined exercise bike, comprising a plurality of signal receiver elements and a signal transmitter element, which are operated in a non-contact manner and are allowed for relative rotation with respect to each other, each of the signal receiver elements having a range of detection, whereby during the relative rotation between the signal transmitter element and the signal receiver elements, when the signal transmitter element is moved into the detection range of one of the signal receiver elements, the one of the signal receiver elements detects a positional message of the signal transmitter element, the one of the signal receiver elements applying the message to a signal processing device, which converts the positional message into a direction signal. 